COVID-19 Update: BC Introduces Bill For Paid COVID-19 Leave In BC

On May 11, 2021, the BC Government introduced an amendment to the Employment Standards Act (the "Act"), Bill 13 - 2021: Employment Standards Amendment Act (No. 2) (the "Bill"), which seeks to establish three days of paid leave for employees who qualify for COVID-19-Related Leave under s. 52.12. The Bill has passed First Reading, but will not become law until it receives Royal Assent.

Once the Bill receives Royal Assent, employers will be required to pay an employee who takes a COVID-19-Related Leave for three days during the employee's leave. For the remainder of the COVID-19 Related Leave, the employee will be on an unpaid leave.

Applicability

The paid leave applies to any employee whose employment is governed by the Act and qualifies for COVID-19 Related Leave. There are no minimum service requirements. The BC Government website indicates that the paid leave only applies to employees and employers who do not already have a paid sick leave benefits plan.